Editorial
Regulating speed of vehicles
HC ruling must be implemented
Against the backdrop of reckless driving and tragic deaths under the wheels of vehicles at regular interval, the High Court (HC) had given a ruling on March 10, 2008 making installation of speed governor seals in all modes of motorised vehicles mandatory by March 10, 2009. The HC had also instructed the relevant authorities to publish notices in various newspapers to make the owners of vehicles aware of the ruling, particularly mentioning the provisions therein for punishment for noncompliance. It was expected that relevant authorities would take the HC ruling with due seriousness and start the implementation process without further ado. But, to our knowledge, motor vehicle owners have not yet been notified in any manner about the deadline and the details of the instruction.
The conspicuous absence of monitoring agencies and lack of strict vigilance to punish reckless drivers remain the most cogent reason for fatal accidents and loss of human lives on the roads and highways. It would be stating the obvious that an overwhelming percentage of vehicles, like minibuses and trucks, do not have the required fitness and the drivers carry on with fake driving licences. As a result, the sight of hundreds of run-down minibuses with faulty brakes, missing back-lights, broken windowpanes and missing footrest maneuvering wildly through the traffic send chill down the spine of the onlookers. If such is the exterior of a vehicle how defective the interior is can be easily made out. These jalopies defy the speed limits on busy roads, and get away with impunity by bribing the members of the law enforcing agencies.
Nagging disorder and anarchy persist on the roads and various measures taken in the past could hardly improve the situation. But, this time around, we feel the HC instruction to install speed governor seals must be adhered to by the motor vehicle owners, both public and private, to bring order and safety back on the roads. As thousands of people have to take to the roads on a daily basis, the authorities will have to notify the motorists and bus-truck owners about the speed-monitoring device without further delay. At the same time we urge the relevant authorities to ensure strict monitoring of the speed limits and take immediate action against the violators of the instructions.
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